Ethos pairs decades of musical expertise with passion for rap to introduce incredible new sound to the world

CLEVELAND, OH – If you look up the word “Ethos” in the dictionary, you’ll find a definition that emphasizes the “character” or “personality” that describes the guiding beliefs or ideals of a community, nation or ideology. For Alex Hlavna, who uses the stage name Ethos, the term is one that encapsulates everything he’s trying to represent as an independent musician. And when you see his name, you know it’s going to be associated with good things.

Ethos is a veteran session musician of the Cleveland, Ohio music scene who after 19 years of playing guitar, bass and drums in various original and cover projects has turned to hip-hop and producing of other artists under his brand Flipside. Ethos’ music combines elements of everything from rap to hip-hop to chill-step and even alternative rock – bringing listeners on an ambient journey of musical storytelling that revolves around the message of what Ethos really is.

“I want the Ethos brand to be more of a go-to destination for good things than anything else,” he said. “I’ve already built a small following on social media based on the content of my opinions and the memes I create and the things I’m saying. If you like who I am and what I post, then you’ll definitely like the music. I’m trying to convey that I’m different and my music is different and you can come here and be part of the Ethos brand and the movement that comes along with it.”

Ethos is an artist who creates what he calls “conscious rap” paired with a unique sound that rarely loses the listener’s attention. This is perhaps best displayed on his new album, “Ten Commandments,” which he plans to drop later this year. The album will be an “agnostic take on the infamous list that applies more to how we live life in 2019,” he said.

Earlier this year, he released two singles – “I’m Alright” and “Learning” – which have created some major momentum for him, gathering more than 6 million plays on his Soundcloud accounts. The songs demonstrate his ability to interweave unusual sounds – some might call them “eerie” – with catchy beats and stellar lyrics. “Learning” is the kind of song that hooks the listener from the beginning and has them bobbing their heads all throughout.

Ethos said he’s been pleasantly surprised at the overwhelming response he’s received from his new music. Rap has always been something he’s loved. As a session musician who specialized in instrumentals he didn’t get to explore that love for rap as much as he would have liked, and now that he’s dedicated his career to those new sounds and styles he’s finding the experience of stretching his muscles as a rapper to be the thrill of his life.

“That background as a session musician and the fact I can play instruments has been integral to making my music today, but more than that I want people to recognize that I’m a great rapper,” he said. “When you hear rap you know immediately if it’s good or bad – there is no middle ground. I have always loved English, and when you have a good understanding of the English language and broaden your vocabulary you can get away from those easy rhymes and it opens Pandora ’s Box for you. When people hear my music, they’ll know that it’s good and relatable and that I’m a one-of-a-kind musician who knows how to pair good beats with good lyrics and deliver high-quality music.”

In advance of his release of “Ten Commandments,” Ethos has dropped the two demo singles, “Adultery” and “Idolatry”.  Ethos release demo tracks from the entire CD as they’re written so that when the album is released, people will get to have almost a brand new experience with the songs they’ve become attached to. 

To listen to Ethos’ music, or to follow him on social media, please visit:
https://twitter.com/thetransistors
https://www.instagram.com/ethos_cleveland/
https://soundcloud.com/user-302115106
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDT_EK8YwhZ94fZYe5j5DUw/about?view_as=subscriber

Upcoming album ‘Polemic’ combines Louis Heaton’s unique sound with deep well of hip-hop knowledge

BROOKLYN, NY – When it comes to Louis Heaton’s music, there’s nothing off limits. His no-holds-barred approach is something he’s banked his music career on for nearly two decades, and it’s that unique blend of passion and perfection that has made him a hit with so many fans over the years.

Those fans are in for a treat with his new album, “Polemic,” which is set to drop sometime this summer. The 13 tracks on the project showcase Heaton’s amazing lyricism and musical substance – something he said is sorely lacking in a lot of today’s song selections. But with years of knowledge and experience deep within the culture of hip-hop, Heaton said he’s seen the ups and downs and has a body of work that he brings to bear with this album in ways that will influence and educate people all over the world.

“I just want a no-holds-barred type of approach because I can address any topic and talk about anything,” he said. “I make good music filled with any kind of substantial content you can think of. I can make a good love song, or a good political song, or a good club song. I can’t be placed in a box, and I’m not afraid to start drama.”

A great example of that approach can be found with the single “Trap Music NYC.” It is a diss track to all New Yorkers who make trap music. Heaton said they are the only ones who lost their original sound just because they are no longer #1.

He said while living in California for eight years, he was being bombarded with music executive after music executive insisting that certain regions – such as the West Coast – should always sound like specific things. Trap music, for instance, is a unique sound from Atlanta that many people have told him only belongs in a deep-South type of vibe and he agrees. But with “Trap Music NYC,” Heaton is attempting to reinvigorate his New York City peers and break past those pre-conceived notions and introduce something new and exciting.

Other hot singles from the album include “Ring Around,” which is a statement piece that explores who Heaton is as an artist, and “Get High,” which is made specifically for the cannabis community and will drop on 4/20. “Get High” features notorious rapper Ruste Juxx, who has been established with Boot Camp Clik and helped Heltah Skeltah.

In addition to his music, Heaton is also an entrepreneur and entertainment businessman. He founded a company called Underverse LLC, which offers a full line of apparel – including shirts, hoodies, sweat suits and more – and offers mentorship opportunities for up-and-coming young artists.

“There’s this thing in a lot of places in New York where if you’re a new artist you have to pay to play,” Heaton said. “We don’t charge artists to perform at our showcases. Most showcases charge artists to perform. We offer you the opportunity to join our network called UV Social with only $5/monthly fee. The whole concept of Underverse is to nurture up-and-coming artists from the underground. All the music from there is organic and pure, and we want to offer a place where those artists don’t ever have to worry about a record company watering down their versions of their songs. We give them a platform to get exposure that can hopefully lead to a recording deal.”

Heaton said he’s glad to use the bachelor’s degree in music business that he got from Five Towns College and combine that with his years of experience that have given him an inside education on all things having to do with the entertainment industry.

To listen to Louis Heaton’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://youtu.be/LVlYC5L4DQY
https://soundcloud.com/underverse-1/ring-around
https://twitter.com/UnderVerseLLC
https://www.instagram.com/underversellc/
https://soundcloud.com/underverse-1
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/louisheaton
https://underversellc.wazala.com/products/ring-around-maxi-single/